New Mexico Data Center Intel

Recent New Mexico data center news

• Jan 7, 2026

  New Mexico Unveils Plan to Expand Affordable Broadband

  New Mexico’s Office of Broadband Access and Expansion has proposed a state telecommunications affordability program to replace the expired federal Affordable Connectivity Program and included the proposal in a three-year statewide broadband plan aiming for universal access by 2029.

  • Program announcement & timeline: The plan proposes a telecommunications affordability program to provide a monthly subsidy for eligible households, with the affordability fund launching in 2027; the statewide plan sets a goal of universal access by 2029 and lists 2026 targets such as completing all Connect NM and CPF-funded projects, finalizing all BEAD awards, and deploying a statewide broadband permit finder tool.
  • Background, funding and project details: OBAE submitted a $675 million BEAD final proposal to the NTIA, managed 21 CPF and ARPA projects totaling $117 million in 2025 with 100 Mbps symmetrical speed requirements, committed $58 million for 22 Connect NM fund projects, launched the Community Connect grant program, increased Lifeline enrollment, and provided over 4,000 student households with affordable broadband through the Student Connect Program for a minimum of three years.
• Jan 7, 2026

  SoftBank, DigitalBridge, and Stargate: The Next Phase of OpenAI’s Infrastructure Strategy

  OpenAI launched Project Stargate as a national-scale AI infrastructure orchestrator on Jan. 21, 2025, coordinating capital, land, power, and supply-chain partners to secure long-duration, frontier-scale compute.

  • Main announcement and commitments: OpenAI announced Project Stargate with an intention to invest up to $500 billion over 4–5 years, including $100 billion targeted for near-term deployment; by late 2025 the program had publicized multi-gigawatt site plans (4.5 GW in July; >8 GW by Oct.) and multi-hundred-billion dollar projected investments (e.g., ~$400B and $450B figures tied to U.S. site portfolios). Key named partners in implementation include Oracle, SoftBank (and DigitalBridge), Samsung, SK hynix, NVIDIA, G42, Cisco, Vantage Data Centers, and local developers.

  • Background, timeline, and implementation detail: The 2025 rollout focused on governance, partner alignment, and power-first site selection with sites announced in Texas (Shackelford, Milam), New Mexico (Doña Ana), Ohio (Lordstown), Wisconsin, and Michigan (Saline Township); notable implementation constraints include grid interconnection, permitting, and financing underwrites (e.g., reporting of a stalled underwriting on an ~$10 billion Michigan project). International nodes include Stargate UAE (1 GW, G42-operated) and exploratory Stargate Argentina (LOI, ~$25B, up to 500 MW).

• Jan 7, 2026

  Looking Ahead to 2026: Signals from Energy, AI, and Industry

  MCJ published a set of predictions for 2026 covering energy, AI, data centers, nuclear fission, grid policy, and geoengineering.

  • Main announcement (predictions): MCJ contributors (Cody, David, Yin, Thai, Casey) forecast automation and autonomy moving from pilots into default infrastructure; consolidation in AI and data center markets via acquisitions; a migration of founders and commercialization activity to the American Southwest (Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas); continued fission buildout supported by DOE underwriting and hyperscaler offtake with “shovels in the ground” expected in 2026; and geoengineering becoming an investible category as philanthropic and early equity flows increase.
  • Background and concrete details: The piece cites ERCOT-inspired storage frameworks (e.g., RTC+B) and broader ISO adoption starting in 2026 to enable real-time co-optimization and unified market participation for storage; predicts vertical integration in the AI/data center sector where buyers target combinations of land, power generation, and software; notes DOE financing for nuclear restarts since 2024 and anticipates novel reactors demonstrating criticality in 2026. Contact for submissions or feedback: info@mcj.vc.
• Jan 2, 2026

  State Broadband Bills of 2025: A Legislative Review

  State legislatures across the United States enacted and considered broadband-related legislation in 2025; fewer than 140 of more than 600 proposed bills became law.

  • Main actions: States enacted laws prioritizing infrastructure and permitting reforms, pole and rights-of-way access, criminal penalties for theft/vandalism, state broadband funding, and data center incentives. Notable enacted measures include Hawaii H 934 (established a state Broadband Office and programs, enacted in June and backed by $400 million in combined funding), West Virginia SB 907 (expanded the Economic Development Project Fund to allow up to $25 million annually for broadband incentives and up to $125 million annually for broadband loan insurance) and West Virginia HB 2014 (signed in April; created microgrid districts with zoning/permitting exemptions and special property tax treatment for qualifying projects).
  • Additional details and timelines: States also raised criminal penalties (e.g., Oklahoma classified willful damage to a critical infrastructure facility as a Class D3 felony with fines up to $100,000 and prison up to 10 years; Louisiana authorized fines up to $50,000 and prison up to 20 years; California AB 476 increased penalties for knowingly buying illegally obtained scrap metal to $5,000). Other enacted programs include California SB 338 (a $2 million telehealth pilot), New Mexico SB 126 (Rural USF increased from $30 million to $40 million), and Oregon’s device support up to $100 in Lifeline-related assistance. At least 37 states passed data center incentives in 2025 and over 1,000 AI-focused bills were introduced nationwide, with ~38 states adopting or enacting roughly 100 AI measures in 2025.
• Dec 30, 2025

  Environment and health in New Mexico: top stories of 2025

  Source NM published a roundup of New Mexico’s top environment and health stories of 2025, highlighting PFAS contamination, a measles outbreak, federal land policy shifts, inclusion of New Mexican downwinders in RECA, data center development impacts, and groundwater toxic metals.

  • Main coverage: Source NM summarized key 2025 actions: PFAS regulation efforts (EPA 2029 deadline for public water systems; NM Environment Department proposed PFAS rules to the Environmental Improvement Board with public hearings potentially as early as February), RECA expansion that now includes New Mexican downwinders with an application deadline Dec. 31, 2027 and an online portal the Department of Justice expects by year-end, and Project Jupiter — Doña Ana County approved $165 billion in bonds for a large data center campus that has applied for permits to build natural gas generating stations and was told the permit applications were “incomplete” and given until Jan. 19 to provide more information.
  • Background and other details: The piece also reports a measles outbreak with more than 100 cases over six months (outbreak ended in September), discovery of toxic metals (antimony, arsenic, uranium) in Mora County groundwater potentially linked to Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire-suppression foam with approximately $2 billion remaining in federal compensation funds under consideration, and federal land policy shifts (USDA roadless rule consultation; Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s comments on the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule) with New Mexico leaders urging protection around Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
• Dec 30, 2025

  New Era Energy Stock Plummets After CEO Flouts Environmental Rules for Personal Gains in Oil & Gas Scam

  The Office of the New Mexico Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against New Era Energy & Digital CEO Everett Willard Gray and two associates alleging a fraudulent scheme tied to oil and gas wells and seeking civil penalties and operational restrictions until remediation is completed.

  • Main action: The complaint (filed in the First Judicial District Court) alleges Gray and affiliates used multiple shell companies to avoid plugging inactive wells, causing methane leaks and soil contamination, and engaged in fraudulent transfers, false statements to regulators, and strategic bankruptcies; plaintiffs seek civil penalties and an injunction to prevent the defendants from operating in New Mexico until proper remediation.
  • Background & specifics: The company’s stock fell over 41% intraday and a further 8.9% after-hours following the lawsuit; the complaint states New Mexico typically bears average plugging costs of $163,000 per well (£120,697) when operators default; Gray is identified as founder/CEO of the original Remnant companies, managing member of Solis Partners (established June 2020 ‘to receive Remnant’s best wells,’), and CEO of New Era Energy & Digital; New Era has promoted a 3,500-acre land option in Lea County for a proposed multi-gigawatt AI data centre linked to natural gas and nuclear power initiatives.
• Dec 29, 2025

  SoftBank to Acquire DigitalBridge for $4 Billion, Doubling Down on AI Infrastructure

  SoftBank Group has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire DigitalBridge for an enterprise value of approximately $4.0 billion.

  • Deal terms and timing: SoftBank will acquire all outstanding shares of DigitalBridge for $16.00 per share in cash (a 15% premium to the December 26 closing price and roughly a 50% premium to the unaffected 52-week average); the transaction was unanimously approved by DigitalBridge’s board and is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals.
  • Background and strategic details: DigitalBridge is a Boca Raton, Florida–headquartered alternative asset manager that manages approximately $108 billion in assets across data centers, fiber networks, cell towers, small cells, and edge infrastructure; the acquisition is positioned to strengthen SoftBank’s AI infrastructure strategy (including participation in Project Stargate, a ~7 gigawatt planned buildout across Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio) and to let DigitalBridge operate as a separately managed platform while providing SoftBank long-duration capital and origination capabilities.
• Dec 27, 2025

  How AI can help cut global emissions even as its power demands continue to impact the environment

  The Associated Press reports that AI applications can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions even as AI computing and data centre energy use rises.

  • Main announcement/action: The article documents multiple real-world AI applications that reduce emissions or improve energy efficiency, including building automation, EV charging scheduling, oil-and-gas methane flaring reduction, geothermal site discovery, and traffic-light optimization; key stats include data centres ≈1.5% of global electricity use (last year) and an IEA projection that that consumption could more than double by 2030. Names and concrete results cited: building automation can cut energy use 10–30%; Google’s Project Green Light can reduce stop‑and‑go traffic up to 30% and cut emissions ~10%; Geminus AI’s simulations run in seconds versus traditional ~36 hours; Zanskar purchased an underperforming geothermal plant in New Mexico last year and announced a second geothermal discovery in Nevada in September.
  • Background and implementation details: The story cites experts and companies — Alexis Abramson (Columbia University Climate School), Bob French (75F), Zoltan Nagy (Eindhoven University of Technology), Greg Fallon (Geminus AI), Carl Hoiland and Joel Edwards (Zanskar), and Juliet Rothenberg (Google) — and describes a California pilot program that shifted EV charging to times with greater renewable supply and customer savings; IEA projections and UNEP findings on methane’s climate impact are used as factual context.
• Dec 23, 2025

  ‘Erosion of trust’: Michigan legislators push back on flood of data center proposals

  The Michigan Legislature has introduced multiple bills aimed at increasing transparency and limiting data center development in the state.

  • Main action and sponsors: Legislation includes a bill to repeal data center tax breaks (2025-HB-5396, introduced by Rep. Dylan Wegela), a bill to bar public officials from signing nondisclosure agreements for data center discussions (2025-HB-5399, introduced by Rep. Reggie Miller), and a bill to rescind a $100 million state grant for the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory data center (2025-HB-5362, introduced by Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr.). The Michigan Public Service Commission approved DTE Energy contracts for the $7 billion, 1.4 GW Oracle and OpenAI data center in Saline Township (project on ~575 acres). Organizers are collecting 356,958 signatures for the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MMOP) ballot initiative, targeting the November 2026 ballot.
  • Background and implementation details: Proposed Michigan Senate package would limit evaporative cooling to 2 million gallons/day, require the MPSC to publish annual water and energy use reports, and prohibit passing water infrastructure costs for data centers onto other customers. Utilities (DTE, Consumers) argue projects bring jobs and tax revenue; DTE states political contributions “are supported by the DTE voluntary employee PAC or DTE shareholders – not from customer revenue.” Local actions (e.g., Howell Township six-month moratorium) and ballot drives (MMOP) are cited as primary routes for residents to influence projects.
• Dec 23, 2025

  NTIA Recommends $6.5M in Tribal Broadband Awards

  The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recommended nearly $6.5 million for nine Tribal broadband projects under the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP).

  • Main announcement: NTIA recommended nearly $6.5 million in funding for nine Tribal broadband projects, including a $2.5 million award to Dena’ Nena’ Henash to complete four engineered, environmentally permitted, shovel-ready fiber-to-the-home network designs; awards also include $496,003 for a hybrid fiber/wireless network serving the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and $500,000 to the Barona Group to expand low-cost internet access.
  • Background and timeline: NTIA is overhauling the $3 billion TBCP, paused most previously recommended grants in November, will hold Tribal consultations on January 13 and January 20, 2026, and plans to issue new guidance for a funding round in spring 2026; roughly $980 million from the program’s second funding round remained undistributed as of November.